Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Handgun restrictions for Elk in CO?

I am going to hunt with a rifle but plan on carrying a handgun for bear protection. Yea, I know, more people worry about getting eat by a bear than actually get eat by a bear....

What I am curious about and cannot find, is, if I carry a handgun in addition to my rifle for hunting, does the handgun also have to meet the 'hunting' requirements for Elk?

nope. I always have a .22....

No. Open carry is legal in Colorado - any caliber.

That being said - from experience - bears aren't an issue in Colorado. We don't have any griz like they do up in Wyoming. It is just extra weight on your belt.

In Colorado, look at the gear you plan to carry and ask yourself how bad you really need it. You will be at high altitude. Just take what you absolutely need and nothing extra.

This......

Besides, if a bear comes snuffling around, spit on him and tell him to get lost.....usually it works.......

Casey

Thanks guys, yea I was really thinking about the weight and most likely won't tote anything extra.

Just wondering if packing one out, if I toted my Ruger 41 mag if that would cause any issues.

As a Lowlander too, believe me you won't want any extra weight at altitude.

A 41 mag is a legal elk cartridge anyway......

Casey

but a .22 is better for grouse and marten.....

I'd never shoot a marten. Just because they eat pine squirrels and I hate those little SOB's........

All these pistol questions, I don't get. You got a rifle, tha's what you need. You want a grouse, throw a rock and hit him in the head. I surely do not see the need to lug a pistol around all day when you already have a rifle in your hands. Yea I know it's all been said before....

Where I hunt in CO I've swore for years I was going to start carrying my single six. Seems like I always see grouse when I get up in the high country, unless I have a 22. Bears I wouldn't worry about, I don't even carry a sidearm if I have a rifle up here in AK. And a rifle is far more effective than any handgun you could ever carry on your belt if you did need to deal with a bear.

Although open carry is legal in CO, if that gun is on your hip in a holster or a shoulder rig, and your coat covers it, it is considered a concealed weapon and you need a CCW permit.

I should read the rules before saying this, but I think grouse with a hand gun would not be legal.
Not to say I haven't seen it done.
One of the funniest times of my life was watching two kids trying to roast a grouse on a hand held spit over a campfire in a heavy snowstorm.

Only restrictions on small game is that West of I25 ,you cannot hunt with a rifle cartridge larger than .23 unless you have an unfilled deer or elk tag. It states nothing about handguns
I just checked the small game regs.

And just how many NR's buy small game license to start with, just so they can shoot grouse. Don't make since to me. If I were spending that kind of money for an out of state elk hunt, I wouldn't be really wanting to be blasting birds and possibly spooking the big one. But that's just me..
If ya want to shoot grouse while elk hunting, take up archery.

Yep - 22 pistol is legal for grouse. And you don't risk pushing all the elk off a mountain with a little .22 report.

That being said, I hunted with a guy in Wyoming once -- ONCE! who head shot a grouse with his .270. I was sitting just above a group of elk that I watched move into some green timber below me and after his shot, I saw them high-tail out and up the other side of the drainage.

I agree that a rock is the best for grouse while hunting if you want fresh backstrap for dinner instead of grouse breast.

Trying to find an elk and touching off your pistol doesn't sound like a recipe for success

For anyone interested...In Idaho no permit is required to carry concealed outside of city limits or a vehicle.
Also, any centerfire handgun is legal for any big game. There are no restriction on cartridge length or energy, none on bullet type. You can use a snub nosed 25 ACP on a bear or moose if you want to. I'm not saying it's smart, just legal.

The real question for the pistol was when the Elk is on the ground and I'm packing it out. Tote a pistol for bears. But apparently that's a non issue, the bears that is.

Sounds like I'll have no problems.

Where can I find out if CO honor's NC CCH permits?

I'm seeing more grouse this year than I have ever seen before.

From 2014 small game regs.
"Rifles or handguns allowed for dusky grouse and ptarmigan."

I like the .45/.410 revolvers. Not too heavy and not too loud. Have had little use for the .45 but saw a bear and a bull while stomping around this past weekend.

Fresh grouse tonight.

blammer, I found the active map on this website quite easy to check just what you're wanting to check. Click on the map and it'll show the states that do and do not honor your NC CCW permit.
http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

In CO maybe. I've read that in parts of MT close to the park, the grizzlies have learned to follow the sound of gun shots, knowing they might get a snack. Some hunters have had guests at the gut pile.

thanks, after wandering around I found this

What is Colorado's Out of State Permit Reciprocity?
A permit to carry a concealed weapon that is issued to a person (who is at least 21 years of age) by another state will be considered valid in Colorado if the other state, in turn, recognized Colorado's concealed handgun permits. [C.R.S. 18-12-105.6]
Check Colorado's reciprocity with other states.

NC honor's CO , so I'm good to go.